Tile and Carpet Centre (TACC) provides modular construction solutions that enable homeowners to occupy fully completed houses within six weeks by using pre-engineered light-gauge steel systems manufactured in advance and assembled on site.
Speaking on Saturday during TACC's Big Annual Sale at Parkside Towers in Nairobi, Engineer and Project Coordinator Joan Muyoka said the construction method significantly shortens project timelines while maintaining durability, thermal insulation and structural integrity.
She explained that every structure is engineered to suit the client's design requirements as well as site conditions before the steel components are pre-cut and prepared at the factory for rapid installation.
"The structure is mainly made using light-gauge steel, which is designed for the house that you're building and the area, the wind loads, and everything. This is the full structure of the house," she highlighted.
Muyoka noted that the steel sections are manufactured from 0.75-millimetre light-gauge steel with a tensile strength of G550 and a galvanised coating rated at Z275 to improve durability.
Once the steel framework is erected, walls are completed using fibre cement boards fixed on both the interior and exterior sides, while fibreglass insulation is installed between the steel members.
According to the engineer, the insulation helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures by slowing heat transfer, making the houses more energy efficient than conventional stone buildings.
"When you look at stone houses, most times they go with the temperature, so it is either very hot or very cold. But now for the light gauge steel, it actually keeps warm even if it's cold out. It doesn't lose heat as fast and it doesn't gain heat as fast," she stressed.
She attributed the six-week construction timeline to factory preparation, where all structural components are designed, cut and drilled before delivery to site.
Muyoka noted that clients are only required to have the foundation slab completed before installation begins.
"The slab where the structure will fit needs to be done by the time we get to site. It is a normal foundation. In fact, the lighter it is, the better because this is a light structure," she explained.
The company delivers projects as complete packages, enabling clients to select their preferred finishes before construction begins and move into fully completed homes within six weeks.
Muyoka maintained that the modular construction technology is not limited to residential housing, saying it has also been used to build classrooms and can support buildings of up to two storeys.
According to her, every project is engineered to suit its intended use and site conditions, with structural designs taking into account factors such as wind loads and additional features, including heavy installations like jacuzzis, to ensure the safety and durability of the building.